Author Fran Lebowitz says Trump should be turned over to the Saudis, apologizes later on 'Real Time with Bill Maher'
Liberal author Fran Lebowitz found herself in hot water recently after she went on television to say that President Donald Trump should be turned over to the Saudis and should meet the same fate as that of Jamal Khashoggi.
Lebowitz made an appearance on HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' on Friday, May 17, where she spoke about Trump's impeachment. "Impeachment would be just the beginning of what he deserves, not even scratching the surface of what he deserves," she replied when the host asked her about what she thinks. "Whenever I think about this and what he really deserves, I think, 'We should turn him over to the Saudis! His buddies! The same Saudis who got rid of that reporter.' Maybe they could do the same for him!" she said.
Lebowitz was making a reference to the tragic and internationally condemned killing of The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was brutally killed and then dismembered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last year.
Later, in the 'Overtime' part of the same show, she backtracked on her comments. Social media, by this time, had already erupted with backlash over what she had said. "I didn’t realize that I had said it. I had 12 cups of coffee. I regret saying it. I did not mean that and I regret saying it. I regret that everyone misinterpreted it," Lebowitz said. Maher, appearing to be frustrated by the whole conversation, said "It's a live show. You don’t really want to see the president dismembered by the Saudis... no matter who the president is, we don't want physical harm," he said as Lobowitz nodded.
In another recent interview with the Guardian Australia, Lebowitz had gone on to talk about why she thinks Trump is dangerous. "Everyone says he is crazy – which maybe he is – but the scarier thing about him is that he is stupid. You do not know anyone as stupid as Donald Trump. You just don't."